Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 533: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether it is acceptable that applications for inclusion on Dublin City Council's affordable housing list have been suspended; if this constitutes discrimination against persons who would wish to be on the list; and if it is within the parameters of law to suspend the programme or not. [10435/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 534: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the suspension of applications for inclusion on Dublin City Council's affordable housing list; and the steps he will take to restart the scheme. [10436/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 535: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if councils other than Dublin City Council have suspended applications for inclusion on Dublin City Council's affordable housing list. [10437/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 533 to 535, inclusive, together.

It is the function of each local authority to manage the administration of its affordable housing application process. I understand that Dublin City Council proposes to close its affordable housing panel from 8 April 2008 until the end of the year, to carry out a complete restructuring of its affordable housing allocation and sales processes, to implement a new web-based affordable housing system, and also to afford long-term applicants on the panel improved opportunities to secure affordable housing. I understand also that the Council will be giving public notice of its intentions in this regard, so that persons wishing to apply have an opportunity to do so before the 8 April closing date.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 536: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that local authorities cannot afford to take up in all cases their allocation of social and affordable housing under the Part V scheme; and the additional funding he will allocate to local authorities in order that they can take up their quotas. [10438/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Record levels of funding for social and affordable housing are being provided in 2008 with over €2.5 billion available for housing programmes generally. Good progress is being made on delivery of social housing programmes with some 9,000 new social housing starts achieved in 2007. This is in line with the commitment in Towards 2016 to achieve 27,000 starts in the period 2007 to 2009.

My Department recently advised city and county councils of indicative budgets for the 2008-2010 period in respect of the local authority social housing programme and the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme of funding for social housing projects promoted by voluntary and co-operative housing bodies. My Department is in the process of meeting individual housing authorities to discuss their Housing Action Plans and final allocations for 2008 will issue to individual housing authorities as soon as possible thereafter. The housing yield under each Part V agreement is a matter for individual authorities to negotiate, having regard to their housing strategies. Housing authorities are being required to manage their capital allocations in a manner that prioritises the take up on homes being delivered through the Part V mechanism.